“Paxton what?” Seamus demanded. Lizzy allowed a tear down her cheek. She moved and hugged Seamus to her tightly. “What happened to him?!” Seamus cried. Lizzy sniffed and looked at both of us.

“He stopped breathing.”

Our eyes widened. Seamus staggered onto the couch. I could hear the front door of the house slamming. “Dr. Holst is going to the hospital now,” she whispered. “P-Paxton,” Seamus stuttered. Seamus’s mom and Josh came in. His mom looked at a loss for words.

“I want…” Seamus bit his lip and turned his head away from us. I sat next to him and he looked into my eyes. “You want what?” I asked quietly. “My dad,” he whispered. “I want my dad.”

I couldn’t help him with that. No one could. Lizzy left the room to answer her cell phone. Mrs. Fitzpatrick and Josh were watching Seamus carefully. He didn’t burst into tears or start screaming. He just sat there, a lost and broken look on his face.

Lizzy came back in and sat on the other side of Seamus. “They got him to start breathing again. But his chances aren’t any better. Seamus, buddy, I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

Clifton came downstairs and he and Seamus exchanged a silent look.

“Just give me five more minutes. I’d give the world to have you in it.”

Seamus’s voice was a haunting whisper. He looked up sadly. “I’m leaving,” he said at last and got up. “Where are you going?” Lizzy demanded. He looked lost and confused. “Anywhere but here.”

And he left the Holst’s.

Daddy came in and wrapped his arms around me. “Are you alright?” I nodded slowly. Clifton was watching me. “Go stop him,” he said. He still looked sick. “Stop him what?” I asked. “Stop him before he does something stupid. Stop him before cuts, drinks, does drugs, has sex, kills himself…just stop him.”

Mrs. Fitzpatrick had a horrified expression. “He does all of that?” she whispered. She turned to Lizzy. “Why didn’t you tell me the boy does all that?!” Lizzy shook her head in shock. “I didn’t know!”

Clifton was giving them a dirty look. “Maybe instead of creating a broken home and expecting ‘the boy’s’ sister to parent him, you could try raising your own fucking son. You named him, you oversaw his growth and upbringing from infancy to teenage years. Take some blame and responsibility for him. It’s no wonder he’s so fucked up. You expect him to take responsibility for his actions when you won’t take responsibility for your own.”

Mrs. Fitzpatrick had her mouth open wide in shock as Clifton spoke. Daddy’s eyes were wide. I would never, in a million years, even consider saying those kinds of things to someone.

“Clifton Holst! That is rude!” Mrs. Fitzpatrick finally managed. “He’s right! You’re nothing but a bitch! If you could learn how to raise your son Paxton wouldn’t be in the hospital right now! He did it for you. He did it because he wanted you to look at him. He’d do anything to make you look at him because you never do! And now my best friend is dying! Hell, he may already be dead!”

Clifton turned and stomped off.

Light awkwardly walked in. “I am so sorry,” he whispered. “Maybe you should all leave.” Daddy got up and took me with him to the car. “What a rude young man that Clifton is,” he said, shaking his head.

But Clifton did have a point.

I felt like I should go find Seamus. But I didn’t know where he would be. How was I supposed to find him?

The next day in school, he wasn’t in first period. I went over to Jay and Clifton in study hall. “Where’s Seamus?” I demanded. Jay dropped his eyes to his feet.

“He’s in the hospital.”